<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, STATEMENTS OF INCOME, STATEMENTS OF CASHFLOWS AND
STATEMENTS OF CAPITALIZATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      295,274
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     56,405
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         124,987
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        28,046
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 504,712
<COMMON>                                        67,021
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             74,809
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 141,830
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        853
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           216,543
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,285
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 142,201
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  504,712
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      213,530
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,586
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     168,985
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     188,571
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         24,959
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,535
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  26,494
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,206
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,288
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         30
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   18,258
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,497
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                          638
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          38,399
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.11